Eobeet m



' (ModeL) R. M. APPLETON.

Stocking.

No. 243,425. Patented June 28,1881.

WITNESSES: I INVENTOR I A BY ATTORNEY N. PETERS PhoXoLHhogmpha",wllhinglnn. u c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT M. APPLETON, OF LAKE VILLAGE, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

STOCKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,425, dated June 28,1881.

Application filed December 16, 1880.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. APPLETON, of Lake Village, in the countyof Belknap and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Stockings, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has reference to improvements in the manufacture ofstockings or other knit articles made on plain circular-knitting looms,so that they will fit the foot or other part of the body with more easeand comfort, and that, furthermore, a greater durability is imparted tothe same.

The stockings which are made on circularknitting looms are made of onesize of webbing throughout from top to toe, without seams, and are thenshaped on wooden forms. They are known to thetrade as bag stockings.They as well as other goods made on circular loomssuch as drawers,&c.-which are cut, sewed, and blocked into form have the disadvantagethat they will lose their form by washing, so as to not fit the foot orother parts of the body. These articles are afterward soon worn at theparts exposed to wear, owing to the strain exerted thereon at the heeland other parts.

The object of my invention is to so enlarge the webbing at the heel,calf, or other parts that they retain the shape permanently and are moredurable in use.

The invention consists in a stocking knit mainly in plain stitch andprovided with one or more elastic gussets at the heel or calf, or

both, said gussets being knit in tuck-stitch, whereby the stocking iswidened and rendered more expansible at these points.

(ModeL) in the trade as bag stockings. This stocking is enlarged at theheel or the calf of the leg, or at both parts, by knitting them withgussets B, of tapering shape, in tuck-stitch, one or more of which areprovided. These enlarged gussets are obtained by the use of specialtuck-wheels.

Instead of the baggy appearance of the stockings or other articlesheretofore made on circular-knittiu g looms, a stocking or other articleis obtained which receives by means of the tapering gussets a bettershape directly by the looms without any shaping on boards, asheretofore, so that a better-fitting and more durable article isobtained.

1 am aware that stockings have been provided with thickening gussets atthe knee and heel to reenforce such parts against wear. Such gussets areessentially different in their construction, operation, and effect frommy elastic tuck-gussets.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Paten t- 1. A stocking composed of one continuous thread,knit mainly in plain stitch and provided at the heel with one or moretapering elastic gussets knit in tuck-stitch, substantially asdescribed.

2. A stocking composed of one continuous ROBERT M. APPLETON.

Witnesses PAUL GoEPEL, CARL KARP.

